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Resident presses East Bethel council over year-old unsafe-dwelling complaints; staff says investigations ongoing
Summary
A resident told the council that alleged safety violations at a neighboring property first reported in February 2024 had not been resolved; staff said arrests and citations have occurred and that some enforcement work is sensitive and ongoing.
A neighbor complained at public forum on May 12 that East Bethel has not resolved alleged safety and nuisance violations at a nearby dwelling first reported in February 2024, saying she had seen no follow-up inspections or enforcement action she could observe.
Speaker Sarah McLaughlin said deputies first reported multiple safety violations at the residence on Feb. 16, 2024, and that she has not seen code enforcement conduct a property search or inspection since. "We are now coming on a year and 3 months since you guys had first been alerted of any safety violations within that residence," McLaughlin said. She asked whether the city could start an abatement process or file for an administrative warrant to inspect the property.
City staff responded that some actions are underway but are sensitive and cannot be fully disclosed on live broadcast. Staff told the council that arrests and citations have been issued at the property and that the eviction or abatement process has been complicated by the owner's actions and by third parties living on the property. "One of the challenges...is that the owner allowed access to two people on this property who then allowed access to other people. And so the eviction process becomes very complicated at that point," staff said.
Staff also said the city follows legal processes and cannot forcibly enter property without proper authority; city officials urged patience while the process plays out and invited the resident to provide contact information so staff could follow up privately.
McLaughlin pushed for more visible action and asked whether the council had filed for administrative warrants or initiated abatement; staff reiterated that some enforcement actions (including warrants or inspections) may be in process and that police and fire responses have occurred. The council did not take any formal vote or motion at the meeting on this item but directed staff to continue investigations and follow legal procedures.
